The Camaro Club (UK)

I was looking at some small 'touch up' guns on ebay ,but was wondering if an old Airmaster compressor rated at 9cfm would provide enough air.
I know HVLP is meant to cut down on overspray and wastage but I've heard it needs a lot more air?
My idea was to use the small gun mainly for 2K primer but also to finish smaller components prior to a Pro respray on the body and panels.

Hi as you rightly say HVLP dose require more air ,most spray guns state what cfm is required .With HVLP guns its a bit confusing in that you would think that running the gun at a lower pressure it would use less air,not so with my guns although they run at lower pressure they demand more air =more cfm required from your compressor. I would say to spray 2K primer you wouldnt be able to use a touchup gun unless you thin it down big style witch is the opposite to what you want from 2k high build primer .You may well get away with spraying 2k topcoat on small pieces .You may be better getting a second hand compressor that will cover all your needs .I would also recomend using a gravity feed gun for primer ,iff your not going to use it a lot you dont need to spend a fortune on a gun my first primer gun was prety cheap and still gets used on occation .Also cheap touchup guns are ok .Someone with a compressor the same cfm as yours may disagree .You can also get second hand guns off fleebay .Hope this helps Cheers Neil. P.S. Check what cfm the guns your looking at run

I've been a little bit confused by the whole HVLP thing - i understand the concept - run low pressure (20-30psi) but use a high volume of air, that way you get a better transfer efficiency (more air available to grab onto the paint, atomize it and lay it onto the panel) and lower pressure = less bounce back when air hits the panel. When you read some of the tech specs it does get a little confusing, for instance the lower priced Sealey HVLP guns run at around 45psi and consume around 15CFM. The more expensive ones (Satajet 3000 for example) run at about 29 psi inlet pressure and 15CFM consumption (http://www.sata.com/index.php?id=satajet3000bhvlp&L=11). Most of the "affordable" compressors i've seen (sub £300) usually only states a max of 12 or so CFM of free air delivery.

You can get a "true" HVLP system which comes with a turbine style electric compressor and feeds heated / dried air to the gun. This works out cheaper than buying a big compressor and gun to go without it (After all these compressors are usually bought to also run air tools), so why not save and get the dedicated HVLP spray system. Just a thought of course.

Devilbiss do a decent Starting Line gun which consumes quite low CFM which your compressor can defnintely keep up with, here's the spiel from their website:

The new DeVilbiss SLG-610 "Starting Line" Spray gun 1.3mm. Compliant SOLVENT GUN. NO SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS SPRAYGUN. NOT SUITABLE FOR WATERBASED MATERIALS. ***Low Air Consumption*** This new model is a budget priced spray gun with conventional atomisation targeted at small jobbing car refinish painters where low output portable compressors are frequently in use. Features Suitable for most automotive refinish general single layer materials lightweight but strong, plated, cast aluminium spray gun body construction Comfort ergonomical handle Smooth trigger action for ease of operator control when feathering or bleeding Easy to adjust air inlet pressure, spray pattern shape (full fan to round) and fluid controls The air cap only consumes 136 L/min (4.8 cfm) so a small portable 1hp / 5 cfm air compressor is sufficient to operate the spraygun SLG-610 sprayguns are supplied as ready to use "Refinisher Kits" complete with a 550ml cup, filter, cleaning brush & universal spanner Specification The SLG-610 has a standard 1/4" air inlet connection thread and has a recommended working pressure of 2.5 bar (35psi). The max inlet pressure is 4 bar. Comes as a 1.3mm Setup.

Hope that helps more than it causes confusion

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Thanks for the good replies,some research on the low consumption gun might be my next move.
I don't really want to go to big expense to buy a new turbine/gun set as I only really wanted to avoid filling the air around me with dangerous 2k [ I don't really trust the disposable masks on ebay]
I love the superior quality of 2k paint but the safety aspect worries me in a home/diy set up with no extraction or air fed mask.
Also the things I will be painting will mostly be under the car [ axle, sub-frame,shocks etc.]so it is really just for personal satisfaction.
Appreciate the helpful information

Try looking at the LVLP (low volume low pressure) guns, as it might be what you're looking for. I don't have time at the moment to explain the principles as I'm off out, but there's plenty of stuff on the 'net to help you.

cheers...Nige

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Too much power...not enough hands!!

From what i've heard, most of the sub £30 guns will be fine for primers / etch etc, as you will be sanding the finish anyway. I had quite good results with a Sealey 701G with a 1.4mm tip. I did everything with that gun - etch, 2k high build primer and single stage top coat. you can get them for about £30 now. It's not HVLP, just conventional. Got a decent finish but there was a fair build of fumes in the work area. http://www.pvrdirect.co.uk/productinfo. ... tref=S701G

I got a mask for about £30 which was reusable and you just change the filters for about £10 after 40 hours use. Machine Mart do them and the replacement filters. They also do displosable ones. Make sure they have the A1 filter for 2k.

I painted absolutely everything on the car - the underneath, the interior shell, boot, all the parts etc all with 2k and i'm still here I was very worried of course about 2k fumes but i learnt that the main thing is to have good extraction. Air fed mask is ideal yes, but that's mainly for the guys who spend their days in a paint booth so are constantly exposed. For the odd job a good mask with good airflow in the work environment should suffice - and make sure to cover as much skin as possible. I got a full paint suit, wore nitrile gloves etc so it was only a few parts of my face that were exposed to the atmosphere. Obviosuly when it comes to anything ppe always go with the best and most you can in your cirumstances. Having air coming in one end of the garage and out the other will help move fresh air in and fumes out. Try having a fan pushin air out of one side of the garage, that will pull air in from the other side. Having just 1 door open will help, but won't give you air flow as such.

HVLP / LVLP will help reduce this amount of fumes in the air as you mention - that's what i'm looking at doing as the paint on the car had manufacturers issues so i need to re-do and that's probably a key in reducing fumes - stopping the air from bouncing back off the panel and into the air.

Here's the finish from the Sealey gun i first used:

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Thanks again for the info.
I think Nige has pointed me in the direction I want to be going [ using my existing 9 cfm compressor with a LVLP gun,in my ignorance I was confusing it with HVLP .]
78 Camaro,you have helped a lot . Many thanks for taking the time to give such a detailed answer.
The quality of your paint looks great in your pic.
I will check out your supplier for the mask and filters.
I have sprayed cars at home before but not with 2K, if I get a lot of the components done I can save a bit of money and put it towards a Pro respray.
Part of me would like to paint it myself,but in less than ideal home conditions it would probably be a frustrating experience and in the end I might end up regretting being penny wise ....
As Clint said " A man has to know his limitations"

Glad to be of help - Nige is the man when it comes to paint, he knows anything and everything about it. If you follow his advice is you'll be in a good place for sure!
Glad that you've got an LVLP sorted, your compressor will be happy with it. All the painting i did was with a 2HP Sealey 50 litre compressor, can't remember the CFM but if that kept up with a conventional gun, an LVLP will be a breeze (possible pun intended )

Good luck with the painting and keep us updated - you know the drill- pics pics and more pics etc

Cheers!

Ray

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